Burns and Allen are one of the most beloved couple in old time radio. They got started, like many of the greats of old time radio, in vaudeville, which is really just the touring popular entertainment in America prior to movies. Gracie was the sparkplug of the act, always the center of attention. George played the foil, the guy vainly trying to make sense of the ditzy world of Gracie. By the early 30s, Gracie was probably the best known woman on radio. Gracie often sang in a voice that showed she was also an excellent comedienne songstress.
By the early 1940's, Burns decided that their act needed a change.He decided that the audience knew Gracie's and his reactions well enough that it would be possible to play off them, and create situations something like screwball comedy, but with the Burns and Allen touch. Jack Benny and Burns and Allen worked much the same way with their comedy.Vaudeville's snappy patter and give and take jokes, good even if the audience didn't know you, could be developed into running gags and put-downs based on character. Burns was always astute when it came to comedy - he lead the brainstorming sessions that wrote the shows, and carefully edited his writers with the final word on what was cut and what stayed. Elvia Allman play Gracie's friend Tootsie Sagwell and Gale Gordon and Hans Conried made frequent appearances.
So in 1942, George and Gracie became, in their characters, the perfectly normal husband and wife that is, if Gracie's non sequiturs and impulsive behavior could be considered perfectly normal. For Gracie, of course, it was perfectly normal, and the American public continued their love affair with her.The shows had names after the sponsors, such as Maxwell House Coffee Time, or The Ammident Show - it was the Burns and Allen show to the public. Other fine radio actors were a part of the fun. Mel Blanc did the happy postman, and was also famous for his zany characters on The Jack Benny Show, and his own Mel Blanc Show. Elliott Lewis, a veteran of many radio "bit" parts on the Burns and Allen shows of the 40s.
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Please enjoy these 273 old time radio episodes:
Air Date | Title | Synopsis | Rating |
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02.01.1944 | guest william powell |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. February 1, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Guest William ... | |
02.08.1944 | guest adolphe menjou |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. February 8, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Gracie begi... | |
02.15.1944 | astaires tap dancing |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. February 15, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Guest Fred As... | |
02.22.1944 | guest cecil b de mille |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. February 22, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap, Brock and ... | |
02.29.1944 | guest dorothy lamour | ||
03.07.1944 | guest alan ladd | ||
03.21.1944 | george the genius |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. March 21, 1944. CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. Geo... | |
03.28.1944 | guest brian aherne |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. March 28, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. The Beverly Hill... | |
05.09.1944 | georges door to door campaign | ||
05.16.1944 | george tries to sing his way into iffice |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. May 16, 1944. Program #38. CBS net origination, AFRS rebro... | |
06.06.1944 | kansas city |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. June 6, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. George thinks he's... | |
06.13.1944 | dinah shore |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. June 13, 1944. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. The last show ... | |
08.29.1944 | no money for auction |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. August 29, 1944. Program #45. CBS net origination, AFRS re... | |
09.26.1944 | george the plumber |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. September 26, 1944. Program #49. CBS net origination, AFRS... | |
10.10.1944 | george wants to buy a lot |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 10, 1944. Program #51. CBS net origination, AFRS r... | |
10.17.1944 | george thinks he dented the car fender |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. October 17, 1944. Program #52. CBS net origination, AFRS r... | |
11.14.1944 | george sings at a bond rally in boston |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. November 14, 1944. CBS net origination, AFRS rebroadcast. ... | |
11.21.1944 | hotel room shortage | ||
12.12.1944 | war bond show |
+ Mrs. Aldrich thinks there is something wrong with Mr. Aldrich as he’s very quiet at the dinner t... | |
12.19.1944 | christmas presents |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 19, 1944. , AFRS rebroadcast. To buy or not to b... | |
12.26.1944 | gracie hires a drama coach for george |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. December 26, 1944. Program #62. CBS net origination, AFRS ... | |
01.15.1945 | guest alan ladder |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 15, 1945. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. Gracie starts ... | |
01.22.1945 | finishing school |
+ The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. January 22, 1945. Sponsored by: Swan Soap. The Beverly Hi... | |
04.02.1945 | george goes rabbit hunting | ||
05.24.1945 | frenchys gang |
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